Glazing
Glazing involves applying thin, transparent layers of paint over dried layers. This technique allows you to build depth and richness of color gradually. Each glaze modifies the color beneath it, creating luminous effects that are difficult to achieve with direct painting.
To glaze effectively, mix your paint with a glazing medium to increase transparency. Apply the glaze with a soft brush in smooth, even strokes. Allow each layer to dry completely before applying the next.
Impasto
Impasto is the application of thick paint that creates visible brushstrokes and texture on the canvas surface. This technique adds physical presence to a painting and can emphasize certain areas or create expressive effects.
Use a stiff brush or palette knife to apply paint thickly. The paint should hold its shape and not flatten out. Impasto works well with oil paints and heavy-body acrylics. Consider the drying time, as thick layers take longer to cure.
Alla Prima
Alla prima, or wet-on-wet painting, involves completing a painting in a single session while the paint is still wet. This direct approach requires confident brushwork and good color mixing skills.
Start with a thin underpainting to establish composition and values. Then work quickly, mixing colors on the palette and applying them directly. The wet paint allows for blending and soft transitions, but requires working decisively before the paint begins to set.
Scumbling
Scumbling is the application of a lighter, opaque color over a darker layer using a dry brush technique. The underlying color shows through, creating a broken, textured effect that can suggest atmosphere or texture.
Use a relatively dry brush with minimal paint. Apply with light, quick strokes, allowing the lower layers to remain visible. This technique is useful for creating soft edges, atmospheric effects, or suggesting texture in skies, water, or fabric.
Brushwork
Understanding how different brushes create different marks is fundamental to painting. Flat brushes create broad strokes, round brushes allow for detail work, and filberts combine both capabilities.
Practice varying your pressure, angle, and stroke direction. Learn to use the full range of your brush, from the tip for fine lines to the full width for broad coverage. Consistent, confident brushwork contributes significantly to the quality of a painting.
